2 Corinthians 11:17

That which I speak, I speak not after the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of glorying.

Not after the Lord ... It is astounding that commentators will render this as did Dummelow, "I am not speaking now under the inspiration of Christ."[40] The New International Version renders it, "I am not speaking now as the Lord would";[41] but the RSV perverted it completely, giving this: "What I am saying, I say not with the Lord's authority, but as a fool!" This despite Paul's having just said, "Let no man think me foolish!" (2 Corinthians 11:16). Paul was familiar with both "authority" and "inspiration"; and, if he had meant anything like the words attributed to him in RSV, he would have used those words. The fact that he did not use them shows that something else was meant.

It means that his words IF SPOKEN IN CONCEITED BOASTING would not be "after the Lord"; but Paul was not speaking in that manner at all, but as in foolishness. In that latter usage of such boasting, there can be no question. Of course they were spoken. "after the Lord," according to the will of the Lord.

Not after the Lord ... was interpreted thus by Kelcy:

It was not the Lord's usual method; but Paul speaking by inspiration, certainly had the Lord's approval. The Lord granted this use of boasting because it was the best weapon to use in the situation Paul faced.[42]

The view advocated by Kelcy goes all the way back to Chrysostom and has been known for ages as the correct view of what is said here. Many of the so-called translations have committed grievous sin in the perversion of Paul's words here. It should be noted that Paul did not say that he was speaking "in foolishness" but "as in foolishness." In that distinction lies the understanding of 2 Corinthians 11:17.

Two things are in view here: (1) boasting for reasons of personal pride, and (2) boasting for the purpose of saving a church, when no better method was available. The first of these is indeed "not after the Lord"; but the second, in the circumstances, most assuredly was. Chrysostom phrased it like this: "By itself (boasting) is indeed not of the Lord, but by Paul's intention it becomes so."[43]

This is not any more complicated than a score of other difficult passages in Paul's writings.

[40] J. R. Dummelow, op. cit., p. 941.

[41] New International Version (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1973), in loco.

[42] Raymond C. Kelcy, op. cit., p. 66.

[43] Philip E. Hughes, op. cit., p. 397.